Rise & Shine: New hope for a historic lawsuit?

Remember last summer when a federal judge dismissed the big Detroit right-to-literacy lawsuit? A lot of folks thought it was dead.

But not Mark Rosenbaum. He’s the lead attorney who filed the lawsuit two years ago. Even then, Rosenbaum insisted this historic effort would continue to move forward. An appeal was filed. And this week, 15 briefs were filed in support of the plaintiff’s appeal.

I asked Rosenbaum Wednesday how he was feeling about the case.

“I’m 100% confident,” he said.

Read the story I posted yesterday about the new developments in the lawsuit — and the possibility that the arrival of a new governor in January could alter its fate.

Also, mark your calendars for next week’s second annual State of the Schools address where Superintendent Nikolai Vitti will share the stage with charter school leaders. Tickets for the event are free, but registration is required.

Scroll down for more headlines.

— Lori Higgins, Senior Reporter

Rise & Shine is Chalkbeat’s morning digest of education news. Subscribe to have it delivered to your inbox.

SUIT Governor-elect Gretchen Whitmer said she is reviewing the right-to-read suit to decide whether the state will continue its opposition. Chalkbeat

STATE OF THE SCHOOLS While last year’s first State of the Schools address led to fiery exchanges between district and charter school leaders, this year’s discussion could focus on how the two sectors are working together on a joint bus route and a citywide grading system. Chalkbeat

FAMILIAR New research finds that when students have “familiar faces” around them in class, they’re less likely to be chronically absent — yet another reason why students frequently changing schools in cities like Detroit is so concerning. Chalkbeat

PRIVATE FUNDING: A coalition of education and other advocacy groups is urging the state’s highest court to take up a lawsuit that challenges a relatively new state law that allows private schools to receive some state funding. Michigan RadioThe Detroit News

SAFE WATERThree Michigan academics question why Detroit and Flint schools, which are using donations to pay for water hydration stations, are having to turn to private sources to fund public problems. Washington Post

RESEARCH Two state agencies and two universities have formed a new research institute with the goal of improving K-12 public schools across the state. MSU